haiti in crisis. the strongest earthquake to strike haiti in 200 years devastates the caribbean nation. there's so much damage, estimating casualties is impossible. capital grilling -- lawmakers question america's top bankers about the financial collapse. and the late night shuffle. conan o'brien says no thanks to nbc's plans to push back his time slot a half hour. this is the "cbs morning news" for wednesday, january 13, 2009. good morning. thanks for joining you. i'm michelle gielan. total disaster and chaos is how one official described the scene

in haiti after an earthquake rocked the nation. the 7.0 quake hit before 5:00 p.m. yesterday. this morning the scope of the disaster is just beginning to emerge. it's reported the capital is largely destroyed, casualties are numerous and severe, thousands remain buried beneath the rubble. whit johnson is with the latest in washington. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the widespread destruction is making it difficult for rescue crews to begin their effort. there are nearly 2 million people who live in haiti's capital city and at this point most, if not all of them r in desperate need of some kind of aid. help can't come soon enough for haiti. the 7.0 magnitude earthquake laid waste to the country's capital city. the injured and dead are lying in the street of port-au-prince. others are still trapped in the rubble. >> i went outside and i know that one of my neighbors died

because a wall fell on him. >> reporter: thousands of buildings toppled in the most powerful quake to hit haiti in more than 200 years. the national palace, home to haiti's president, crumbled in on itself. when night fell, many u.n. personnel were missing. their five-story headquarters collapsed. ronald charles was at the airport during the quake, but made it out on a flight to miami. >> all of is, everything was just falling apart. all over the praise. people was crying. the roof, like the ceiling was falling. >> reporter: president obama said the u.s. stands ready to help. the coast guard is mobilizing crews. and civilian search and rescue teams are on the way. 72 members of the fairfax county, virginia, search and rescue unit loaded up last night. >> we have special groups within the team that include medical doctors, structural engineers and different rescue specialists. >> reporter: the team went to haiti in 2008 after a deadly school collapse. >> it is an incredibly poor country. that in and of itself presents a

challenge. >> reporter: it is so poor it has almost no emergency services of its own. the quake took out most lines of communication and officials say it's impossible to give even a rough estimate of the number of casualties. people in haiti are in need of water, emergency supplies, shelter, aid workers are calling on people around the world to make donations and contributions as soon as possible to speed up relief efforts. michele? >> such a sad situation. the number of deaths is almost impossible to know but what are the early reports? >> reporter: you know, reports have been all over the place. we've heard thousands, tens of thousands. some reports have even indicated that possibly more than 100,000 people are at least trapped under buildings. an unknown number of people unaccounted for. at this point, you have buildings that have been reduced to rubble. there's no water, no power, and even no emergency services or hospitals in many places. so as we know in a situation

like this, the final number, it could be days away or even longer. >> whit johnson in washington. thanks for that report. and as whit mentioned, almost all means of communication to haiti remain down. earlier we spoke with joel tremendous bell, a missionary in haiti for 35 years who also runs a local tv station. he was able to give us a better idea of what's happening on the ground. >> there's a lot of people outside. you hear a lot of voices, a lot of people yelling, running up and down the street because there's reports of friends' houses that have fallen, people that have been hurt or worse. it's just basically a panic. the closer you get to the city of port-au-prince, it gets more that way. there's many, many hundreds and hundreds of buildings in port-au-prince that have fallen. less than half a dozen 24/7 emergency rooms in the city of port-au-prince where we're looking at serving close to 3 million people. lot than 2,000 or 1 iction 500

hospital beds throughout the entire city. probably less than 1,000. pretty much every bit of medical attention will be for these people is going to have to come from the international community in the next few days. hopefully some flight will come in tomorrow that will be able to bring some supplies. there's going to be a lot of needs to be drinking water right away, lots of iv fluids, i would assume, and emergency response teams. but you can imagine what happened at 911 in new york with the twin towers and multiply that by several 10, 15, 20 times. that's what it's going to be like here in port-au-prince. we don't have what america has. we just don't have it. it's going to have to be by boat or by plane. it's going to have to be fast. members of the haitian community in this country are frightened and frustrated with communications down and unable to reach family or friends, all

that's left for some haitian-americans is prayer. >> i'm panicked. you have your friends, your relatives, your parents there, then you don't know what's happening. and i understand that they -- it is reported that maybe there are more buildings down than buildings up. >> it's really bad out there. it's really bad. it's something i don't think they can handle, honestly. haiti can't handle this. >> they were saying people were trapped, not only under houses but under cars also. >> about 10 million people live in haiti. many come to the united states seeking work and a better life. the state department has offered full military and civilian aid to haiti and set up a toll-free number to call for information about family membermember members. turning now to afghanistan, nato says two more u.s. service members were killed this morning. they died following an explosion in eastern afghanistan. so far 12 u.s. troops have been killed in afghanistan this month.

president obama's expected to announce a new fee or tax on banks tomorrow. its purpose is to recover $120 billion in bail outmoney dolled out last year. today four of america's top bankers testify before the congressional financial inquiry commission. >> the industry's in favor of reform. and i think these hearings today will lay out what happened and what we can do to help prevent it from happening again. >> the banking exexecutives can expect pointed questions about how the system collapsed. this year the same banks that took government bailout funds are handing out billions of dollars in bonuses. on the "cbs moneywatch," there was profit-taking in asian markets this morning. emily smith has that and more. >> asian markets took a nose-dive on worries china may not be able to sustain economic recovery. nikkei dropped more than 1%, hong kong's hang sang slid more than 2.5%. wall street stocks dropped

tuesday after disappointing corporate earnings report. the dow fell almost 37 points. the nasdaq lost 30. the job search appears to be tougher than the unemployment rate suggests. the labor department says on average there are more than six unemployed worker for each job opening, a record high. before the recession began there were two unemployed for each available job. google could be bailing on china. the internet powerhouse has obeyed chinese rules on censorship but google says it won't do that anymore and may discontinue service there ail together, after they discovered computer hackers in china had been trying to gather personal information about human rights activists. wii users will be able to watch netfliction through the gaming device. to watch flix they need a special instant streaming disk that netflix will mail out in

the spring. t and if you're a cougar looking for a cub on a cruise, don't look to carnival. after setting sail in december on a cruise designed for older women seeking younger men, carnival has turned down a request from another koug ar-themed voyage. they called it a business decision. now, i'm not saying a word. you know that cougars are in their young 30s, according to urban dictionary? >> really? learn something new every day. thanks. just ahead on the mornings news -- a north carolina port is shut down after a dangerous chemical spill. a setback for the prosecution in the trial of a man accused of killing an abortion provider. first, katie couric with a preview of tonight's "cbs evening news." >> are we any safer after 9/11? we'll tell you where the next militants are training and how prepared this country is to deal with them. where america stands on terrorism tonight only on the "cbs evening news."

now, in a not-so-mini size. the all-new gmc terrain. with an epa estimated 32 miles per gallon highway. may the best car win. chili's new mini tacos in five fresh flavors. like crispy shrimp, hand-battered, cooked until golden brown. and smoked chicken, topped with fresh ingredients just for you. part of our three courses, two people, $20 deal, where you can share an appetizer, choose two entrees, like our fall-off-the-bone tender baby back ribs or a new pulled pork sandwich, and share a dessert. for a limited time, only at chili's.

it all starts with havinglocks more hotels to choose from.. that's why i book with expedia. so i can find someplace familiar... or somewhere more distinctive... nice! then i can compare dates to find out when i can save the most cash. done and done. we should do this more often. more choices, more savings. where you book matters. expedia. ♪ dot com the 5-year, 100,000 mile transferable powertrain warranty, from gmc. with roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, it's the best coverage in america.

the port in morehead city, north carolina, remains closed but the roads around it have been opened. yesterday a forklift operator accidentally punctured contains of ptn, the explosive used in the christmas day bombing attempt. the spill was cleaned up and no injuries reported. police near atlanta say a disgruntled ex-employee killed two people at his former workplace. the man allegedly went to the penske truck rental place yesterday dressed in camouflage clothing and started shooting. he first confronted someone in the parking lot before moving into the building. in addition to the two dead, three others were critically injured. police say the gunman fled in his truck but was captured not far away. the man worked at penske. a controversial ruling by

the judge in the trial of a man. they may build a defense for a lesser charge claiming the murder was justified. drew levinson reports. >> reporter: scott roeder says he killed a kansas abortion provider to protect unborn children and he believes that is manslaughter, not murder. a judge says he can present his case to a jury. >> as a defendant, he's entitled to present his defense. >> reporte he is accused of killing dr. george tiller. tiller was one of the few doctors in the country known to provide abortions into the third trimeser of pregnancy. he has been charged with first-degree murder but his attorneys are pushing for justified voluntarily manslaughter which could bring a prison sentence of only five years. >> it's difficult for this court -- >> reporter: on tuesday the judge ruled defense attorneys could present evidenced to try

to prove the manslaughter charge. until he hears the evidence, the judge won't consider a lesser charge. legal experts say the defense is going to have a very tough time proving it's case but just allowing roeder to say what he did is justified has both people on both sides of the abortion debate watching this trial very closely. some abortion pope enopponents stunned. they say it sends a message of approval who could commit violence in the future. the judge emphasized he will keep the trial tightly focused. >> this is not going to be a debate on the issue of abortion. >> reporter: jury selection begins wednesday. drew levinson, cbs news, wichita, kansas. straight ahead, your wednesday morning weather. in sports, one top-ranked college basketball team wins but another is upset. announcer: kids who don't eat breakfast aren't getting the nutrition they need to keep their bodies strong. carnation instant breakfast essentials supplies

all the nutrients of a complete breakfast to help build strong muscles and healthy bones. carnation instant breakfast essentials. good nutrition from the start. who try to quit cold turkey will be unsuccessful. if you haven't been able to quit smoking, you haven't failed, maybe your method of quitting has. but you can do it. you may just need the right tools. clinical guidelines recommend treatment and support to improve your chances of quitting smoking. why not get all the help you can?

make a plan, get support, and talk to your doctor about prescription treatment options that can help you quit smoking. and to find out more, go to rethinkyourquit.com in some cities around the country. new york, mostly cloudy at 36. miami, 65. chicago, sunny at 34. denver, sunny and 57. los angeles, 64. it's time now for a check on the national forecast. the latest satellite picture shows gray skies over most of the west coast and a clear and rather cold morning across much of the south. later today, showers will be scattered for much of the day over a good portion of the west

coast. rain is expected to fall over southern california, which has been very dry. it will be a beautiful day across the plain. the eastern half of the nation will be dry. and the south will begin to warm up. in sports, kentucky, number two college basketball team in the country, has now won 17 games straight. the wildcats john wall scored 19 points and bledsoe had a career high 25. kentucky beat florida 9-77. in the big 10, ohio state's everen turner had had a career high 32 points against purdue. the buckeyes upset the boilermakers 70-66. it was purdue's second straight defeat after losing to wisconsin on saturday. in the nba, san antonio's tim duncan had 25 points as the spurs got their biggest win of the season against los angeles. san antonio's 105-85 win was their fourth straight loss on the road for the defending champion lakers. and in sacramento, dwight

howard of orlando had 30 points against the kings. the magic dominated in the fourth quarter in a 109-88 victory. it was orlando's second straight win as they start a tough road trip on the west coast. when we return, we'll take another look at this morning's top stories. and battle over the network stars, conan o'brien takes a stand against nbc over the late night schedule. that five servings a day if you don't always like the taste of vegetables. good thing v8 v-fusion juice gives you a serving of vegetables hidden by a serving of fruit. v8. what's your number? to cover up flaws and make skin look pretty but there's one that's so clever, it makes your skin look better even after you take it off. neutrogena healthy skin liquid makeup. 98% of women saw improvement in their skin's natural texture, tone, or clarity. does your makeup do that?

neutrogena® cosmetics recommended most by dermatologists. and albacore tuna, crab, salmon and ocean fish flavors.

on the "cbs morning news," here's a look at today's weather. showers will be scattered along the west coast. some rain may fall over southern california, which is very dry. and a welcomed january thaw will cover the plains. highs will reach into the 50s. here's another look at this morning's top stories. haiti is said to be in ruins following a massive earthquake. thousands of buildings have been

destroyed, including the presidential palace, trapping thousands of people. top banking officials can expect to be grilled when they appear before a congressional panel investigating the 2008 collapse. plans by nbc to reshuffle the late night schedule have fallen apart. conan o'brien says he will not agree to moving his tonight show back a half hour. sandra hughes reports. >> i'm conan o'brien and i may soon be available for children's party. >> reporter: no one at the network is laughing at nbc's late night experiment is blowing up. o'brien issuing a statement saying after only seven months with my tonight show in its infancy, they are trying to make a change in their long-established late night schedule. i cannot participate in what i honestly believe is its destruction. >> nbc said they wanted drama at 10:00. now they got it. now they got it. everybody's mad. >> reporter: last year to keep

its promise that o'brien would inherit what was then jay leno's tonight show they pushed leno earlier into prime time giving o'brien the big show. it was a disaster. leno averaged only 5.8 million viewers in his new 10:00 slot. his competition, the mentalist on cbs, pulls in 17.5 million viewers. o'brien wasn't shining either. his show pulled in 3.3 million fewer viewers than the old "tonight show" costing nbc more than $200 million in lost ad revenue and millions more to affiliates. for 60 years from steve allen to jack paar to johnny carson -- >> here's johnny! >> reporter: "the tonight show" has held a cherished late night spot after the local news. >> certainly doesn't look good for them. they had a plan that blew up in their face. one of the stars they established over 17 years they're saying, i'm so happy i have to list.

>> reporter: providinging grist for rival david letterman, too. >> it's all about money. >> reporter: sandra hughes, cbs news, los angeles. this is the "cbs morning news." ♪ mmm... hot fudge sundae. ♪ ooh! frosted blueberry?!? ♪ over 25 flavors of kellogg's pop-tarts®. and they're all for fun and fun for all. pop-tarts®. made for fun™.

major earthquake in the news this morning. it's virtually destroyed haiti's capital city. a teenager shot outside of baltimore city high school. the blood trail leads into the mall. hear what led to the shooting. >> and the pension pro test. people speak out against the

$383,000 a year sheila dixon pe. >> more weather and traffic in a couple of minutes. ,, what are you doing tim? practicing. practicing what? writing my name. why are you writing your name so much? because grandpa said that our name goes on everything we make. (announcer) tim and richard smucker grew up knowing that putting your name on every jar was a guarantee of quality. what are you doing, richard? i'm practicing too! that's a good idea. (announcer) for five generations, with a name like smucker's, it has to be good.

that's why there's lysol dual action disinfecting wipes. they go beyond ordinary wipes... because they have two different sides. a scrubbing side with powerful built-in fibers that easily lifts tough messes. and a wiping side that cleans and kills 99.9% of germs. lysol. disinfect to protect. try lysol all purpose cleaner to remove tough grease and kill 99.9% of germs.

hello again. in 30 seconds it will be 5:00. it is wednesday the 13th. not a bad day at all. >> lost a lot of yesterday's breeze. my car thermometer was in the mid-20s. keep in mind yesterday at this time